Crimping apparatus



J ly 4, 1 c. H. GOODWIN ETA]. 2,990,584

CRIMPING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS W/L UAMRMFKA'L VJ JR. Gi 15 STE/Q H G OODW/N 4 TTORNE Y8 July 4, 1961 c. H. GOODWIN ET AL 2,990,584

CRIMPING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS W/L L MM R M9051 l/J JR. g HES TEE H G 000 W/N ATTO RNE Y5 United States Patent 2,990,584 CRIMPING APPARATUS Chester H. Goodwin, London, England, and William R.

McKelvy, Jr., Decatur, Ala., assignors to The Chemstrand Corporation, Decatur, Ala., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 24, 1957, Ser. No. 692,160 3 Claims. (or. 19-66) This invention relates to apparatus for treating fibrous material and more particularly to apparatus for crimping or forming permanent undulations in normally straight filamentary material formed, for example, from synthetic compositions such as acrylonitrile polymers or the like.

A substantial portion of the textile industry is at present directed towards the preparation and production of yarn and fabric from synthetic filaments and fibers such as those formed from acrylonitrile polymers and the like. These synthetic filaments have a number of highly desirable characteristics such as low cost, long wear, and the like. However, due to their synthetic nature, certain physical characteristics common to the natural fibers, such as wool, cotton, etc. are not present in these syn thetic filaments. For instance, the fibers of wool in their natural form contain a plurality'of crimps consisting of waves which are approximately sinusoidal in form with the number of crimps per inch in the individual fibers varying widely with the different grades of wool. It has been determined that these crimps are primarily responsible for the softer feel and warmth in wool as the crimps tend to hold the individual fibers in the Wool yarn apart. Furthermore the peculiar elastic qualities of wool are thought to stem in some degree from these crimps as when the fibers are stretched the crimps are more or less straightened and in the straightened condition they have a springlike tension which tends to return to the wave of the crimped fiber.

Many constructions have been proposed for providing such crimps or waves in synthetic filaments, one of the most common of which comprises rotary means such as a pair of cooperating toothed rolls with intermeshing teeth which advance the filaments while deforming the filaments into the particular crimp pattern or number of crimps per inch desired. Generally, the filaments which may be in the form of an elongated rope or tow are initially heated and moistened prior to entering the crimping rolls in order to bring the filaments to a plastic state in which they are crimped. Thus, upon cooling, the crimps are permanently set in the filaments.

Uniform crimping in a predetermined pattern is generally difiicult to attain in such prior crimping arrangements as the degree of plasticity of the filaments can not be controlled accurately and the amount of moisture added to the tow as well as the temperature existing in the portions of the tow being crimped were characterized by wide variations giving a crimped pattern of non-uniform shape. Furthermore metal to metal contact between the toothed rolls was difiicult to avoid due to the need for maintaining engagement between the rolls and consequently the tow was often broken or cut giving an undesirable end product.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide new and novel crimping apparatus for forming crimps in fibrous material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a crimping apparatus for filamentary material of a synthetic nature such as that formed from acrylonitrile polymers or the like which produces a wave form or crimp in such material so as to contribute materially to the accurate duplication of substantially all grades of the natural fibers such as wool, cotton, and the like.

Patented July 4, 1961 A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved crimping apparatus for filamentary material which produces a crimping pattern in such material of any predetermined number of crimps per inch and of any crimp amplitude in a uniform pattern throughout the filaments contained in the material.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved crimping apparatus for filamentary material in which the material may be formed with a crimping pattern throughout all of the filaments in the material while virtually eliminating any breaking or cutting of the filaments during the crimping operation.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a new and improved crimping apparatus for filamentary material formed from synthetic compositions such as acrylonitrile polymers or the like which produces a crimped filament in any predetermined pattern that is permanent in nature, which is simple in construction and which may be operated efficiently for prolonged periods of time while continuously producing a uniformly crimped end product which is substantially devoid of breaks in the filaments.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In general the objects of this invention are accomplished by providing means for advancing a filamentary tow in a path. The tow, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a bundle of continuous filaments formed from a synthetic material such as acrylonitrile polymers or the like. The tow advancing means include means for forming a plurality of crimps in the filaments of the tow and these crimps are formed in successive portions of the tow as it advances. Means are provided in association with the crimp forming means for injecting a heating medium such as steam into the portions of the tow in which the crimps are formed so that the deformed portions of the tow are moistened and heated simultaneously by the steam. The tow leaving the crimp forming means therefore contains continuous uniform crimps of a predetermined spacing and amplitude which are permanently set within the filaments of which the tow is comprised.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a crimping apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention with the housing cover removed to illustrate the roll driving mechanrsm;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 partially in section;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a front view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a modification of the invention.

As specifically illustrative of the invention, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a crimping apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention for forming a plurality of crimps or waves in fibrous material. Although this crimping apparatus may be employed to crimp a wide variety of fibrous material, in the specific embodiment illustrated it is preferably employed to crimp a tow or rope 11 (FIG. 2) of continuous filaments which are formed from synthetic material such as acrylonitrile polymers or the like.

Means have been provided in the apparatus of FIG- URE 1 for advancing the tow 11 in a path which include means for forming a plurality of crimps in the tow.

More specifically a pair of cooperating rolls 12, 13 are fixedly mounted on rotatable shafts 14, 16, respectively, which are rotatably supported within a housing 17, the cover of which has been removed in FIG. 1 to reveal the interior and the parts contained therein. Each of the rolls is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth 18, 19 respectively which are intermeshed as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 so that the rolls 12, 13 will rotate in opposite directions as a unit to advance the tow 11 through the nip, designated generally by the numeral 20 of the rolls.

The shaft 16 on which roll 13, hereinafter referred to as the driven roll, is mounted is preferably hollow so as to contain a central bore 21. The shaft 16 extends through an opening 22 in the housing front wall 23 and is rotatably mounted in housing 17 on bearings 24 suitably positioned in the housing as shown in FIG. 1. In order to rotate the shaft 16, a pinion 25 is fixed to the shaft and intermeshes with a driving gear 26 connected to any suitable driving means (not shown).

The shaft 14 on which roll 12 is mounted, which hereinafter will be referred to as the idler roll, extends through an opening 27 in the housing front wall 23 and is supported within the housing so as to be freely rotatable in bearings 28 suitably mounted in pedestals 29. The pedestals 29 are suitably secured by means such as bolts 30 to a slidable member such as a plate 31 containing a plurality of downwardly depending lugs or guide rails 32 shown best in FIGURE 3.

In order to guide the movement of the plate 31 in a predetermined direction the housing 17 contains a bottom wall 33 in which is machined a pair of guide slots or grooves 34 arranged in spaced parallel relationship as shown in FIGURES l, 3. These guide slots 34 are arranged to receive the guide rails 32 in sliding engagement therewith so that the plate 31 together with the idler roll shaft 14 may move in either direction as indicated by the double arrow H within the limits of the grooves 34. The housing wall opening 27 is of suitable length to accommodate the movements of shaft 14.

Means have been provided to yieldingly urge the idler roll 12 into meshing engagement with the driven roll 13 so as to limit the cutting of the filaments in the tow 11 during passage of the tow through the nip 20 of the rolls as the thickness of the tow varies throughout its length. More specifically there has been provided pneumatic means such as a compressed air cylinder 38 of any conventional construction which may be connected by means such as a line or hose 39 to a suitable source of compressed air (not shown). The cylinder 38 contains a reciprocating piston rod 41 which is secured at its forward end in any suitable manner to the plate 31. By way of example, the end of the piston rod 41 is transversely bored so as to receive therethrough a pin 43. The pin is secured at each end to upstanding flanges or webs 44 formed as an integral part of a clevis plate 45. The clevis plate 45 is secured by means such as screws 46 to a marginal edge of the plate 31 as shown in FIG. 1. By pressurizing the cylinder 38, the piston rod 41 may be actuated to move the plate 31 and consequently the roll 12 into yieldingly intermeshing engagement with the driven roll 13.

It is well understood that the crimping of synthetic filaments requires the elevating of the filaments to a temperature at which the filaments assume a relatively plastic state so that the crimps will be permanently set in the filaments. Furthermore, the addition of moisture to the filaments materially improves the crimp formation. Means therefore have been provided for injecting a heating medium into successive portions of the tow as these portions are formed into a crimped pattern to thereby set the crimp permanently in the tow. More specifically the driven roll 13 is of hollow construction with a peripheral wall 47 as to provide an interior chamber 48 as shown best in FIGURE 2. Fluid passage means such as ports 49 (FIG. 1) are positioned radially within the roll peripheral wall 47 and have their outer or outlet ends located within the root of the roll teeth 19 as shown in FIGURES 1, 2. The ports 49 are spaced transversely on the wall 47 axially of the roll and are circumferentially spaced throughout the roll wall peripheral surface in a plurality of rows each of which rows lie within a root of the spaced teeth 19. It should be understood that the ports 49 are preferably employed as passage means for the heating medium but any other suitable construction may be employed such as transversely extending slots or the like.

Means have been provided to supply a heating medium to the radial ports 49 so that the heating medium flows through the ports and is discharged into the tow 11 substantially at the nip 20 of the rolls. More specifically, a conduit or line 51} is fixedly positioned centrally within the bore 21 of the driven roll shaft 16. The inlet end of conduit 50 is connected to any suitable source of a heating medium (not shown). It should be understood that steam is the preferred heating medium employed as it not only elevates the filaments in the tow 11 to the desired crimping temperature but simultaneously moistens the tow so as. to improve the crimp setting performance of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

The outlet end of the steam conduit 50 if desired may be arranged to supply steam to the chamber 48 in the driven roll 13 so that the steam may flow through the ports 49 in the roll wall 47 and into the tow advanced by the rolls. This would mean, of course, that the steam would flow through all of the radial ports simultaneously in an undesirable manner and in the preferred embodiment valve means are provided, designated generally by the numeral 51, in connection to the end of the steam line 50 within the roll chamber 48 so as to direct steam only through those ports whose discharge or outlet ends are substantially in alignment with the nip 20 of the rolls. The valve 51 may be of any suitable construction and one highly satisfactory construction is. shown in FIGURE 2 wherein the valve mounted within the roll chamber 48 comprises a body 52 containing a slidable head 53, the outer surface of which is shaped so as to conform to the inner curvilinear surface of the roll wall 47.

The valve body 52 is connected in any suitable manner to the outlet end of the steam conduit 50 and fluid passages 54, 56 are provided within the valve body 52 and head 53 respectively through which steam is conducted so as to flow into those radial ports 49 moving into alignment therewith as the rolls 12, 13 are rotated. It should be understood that the pressure of the steam flowing within passages 54, '56 urges the head 53 radially outward so that its upper surface is in substantially sealing engagement with the roll wall 47.

In the operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3, the tow 11 is fed into the nip 20 of the rolls 12, 13 as shown in FIG. 2 and the shaft 16 of roll 13 is driven through its pinion 25 in the manner described above, so that the idler roll 12 rotates therewith due to the intermeshing of the teeth 18, 19 on the idler and driven rolls respectively. A guide 57 is secured in any suitable manner to the housing front wall 23 as shown in FIG. 2 and directs the tow guidably into the rolls. A cover guard 58 is also preferably mounted on the front wall 23 of roll 12 to prevent contact with the roll teeth. Pressure is supplied to the cylinder 38 to move the rod 41 and consequently the idler roll 12 into yielding engagement with the driven roll 13. The cooperating teeth 18, 19 on the rolls form a predetermined crimp pattern in the tow 11 having a preselected amplitude and number of crimps per inch of tow according to the size and spacing of the teeth 18, 19. Steam is admitted to the conduit 50 and it flows serially through the valve 51 and the communicating radial ports 49 which move into alignment with the valve head passage 56 so that steam will move out of the ports 49 directly into the tow at the point Where the crimps are formed. Thus the tow 1s positively crimped uniformly throughout in a substantially permanent manner due to the positively deforming contours of the roll teeth and the selective heating and moistening of the filaments in the tow.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is shown a modification of the apparatus of FIGURES 1 through 3 wherein the toothed idler roll is replaced with a roll 60 composed of a resilient material such as rubber. A solid rubber roll may be employed if desired but preferably the roll 60 has a steel core 62 containing a peripheral layer 59 of rubber. The general construction of the modification of FIG. 4 is preferably substantially identical to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 13 with the substitution of the rubber roll 60 for the steel idler roll of FIGS. 1-3. Therefore, for the purpose of clarity only the construction of the rolls has been shown in FIG. 4.

The roll 60 is urged in the manner of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 against the teeth 19 of driven roll 13 so that the teeth deform the outer periphery of the rubber roll 60 into corresponding hills and valleys as designated generally by numeral 61. Thus the apparatus of FIGURE 4 may be operated in the manner of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 to advance the tow 11 through the nip of rolls60, 13 with the teeth 19 on the driven roll and the deformed surfaces 61 on the rubber roll 60 forming the desired wave amplitude and spacing as determined by the form of the teeth on the driven roll 13. Similarly, steam is directed through the radial ports 49 in the driven roll 13 to set the crirnps in the tow 11.

Through the novel construction of this invention a pattern crimper has been provided for filamentary tow which gives a positive crimping action of a predetermined form uniformly throughout the tow so that filaments having crimped characteristics of any desired shape or spacing may be obtained. The crimping is accomplished in a continuous manner with a self contained crimping unit without the need for external processing and the physical characteristics of the filaments may be accurately controlled to the maximum extent possible during a crimping operation. The apparatus disclosed is simple in nature and is not subject to breakdown even though used continuously for prolonged periods and the heretofore unsolved problem of filament cutting characteristic of pattern crimpers has been virtually eliminated.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made therein without departing from the invention and therefore it is the aim of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for crimping filamentary material, comprising a base, a first toothed roll resiliently mounted on the base, a second toothed roll mounted on the base in engagement with the first roll and having an internal chamber and also having a plurality of ports extending from said chamber through said second roll, a valve body mounted in said chamber, and a head slidably mounted on the valve body and engaging the wall of said chamber, said head having an aperture for directing a treating fluid from said valve body through said ports and into the filamentary material.

2. An apparatus for crimping a filamentary material, comprising a base, a resilient roll mounted on the base, a toothed roll mounted on the base in engagement with the toothed roll and having an internal chamber, said toothed roll having a plurality of radial ports extending from the chamber through said roll, a valve body mounted in said chamber, and a head slidably mounted on the valve body and having an outer surface shaped so as to conform to the surface of said chamber, said head having an aperture for directing a treating medium from said valve body through said ports into the nip of the rolls.

3. An apparatus for crimping a filamentary material, comprising a base, said base having a pair of parallel grooves, a plate mounted on the base and having a pair of guide rails slidably positioned in the grooves so that the plate is movable on the base, a first shaft rotatably mounted on the plate, a first toothed roll attached to the shaft, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on the base parallel to the first shaft, a second toothed roll secured to the hollow shaft in engagement with the first roll, means on the base for urging the plate in a direction to hold the first roll against the second roll, said second roll having a cylindrical internal chamber and a plurality of ports extending radially outward from the chamber and through the roll, a stationary conduit mounted in the hollow shaft and extending into said chamber, a valve body attached to the conduit, and a head slidably mounted on the valve body and having an arcuate outer surface engaging the wall of the cylindrical chamber, said head having an aperture for directing steam from the valve body through the ports in alignment with the nip of the rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,068,139 Kronheim Ian. 19, 1937 2,394,165 Getaz Feb. 5, 1946 2,435,891 Lodge Feb. 10, 1948 2,446,840 Leister Aug. 10, 1948 2,547,060 Tillisch Apr. 3, 1951 2,668,564 Laros Feb. 9, 1954 2,871,519 Flint et a1. Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 742,440 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1955 

